CarComplaints.com Notes: There's no way around it, the Cherokee's transmission is junk. There's no other explanation for why a vehicle, usually with under 40,000 miles, would have so many complaints
We purchased a 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited, 4WD w/Active Drive 2 in January 2014. When we purchased this vehicle, we traded in a GMC Terrain. We were certain that the Jeep was going to be a fantastic purchase, knowing the reputation of Jeep. We have had nothing but what I'd call serious problems with the transmission. Every time I take it in for an oil change, I mention it, and they do "software updates." Each software update that has been done has not corrected the problem still. All it's done is created a different problem. There have now been 5 recalls on this vehicle, 1 of which hasn't been taken care of yet because Jeep hasn't come up with a replacement part, so I'm stuck with a rental Renegade that is nowhere near comparable to my Cherokee Limited 4WD, for an "unspecified amount of time." My steering column makes a grinding noise louder than a 40 year old truck. The dealership told me that it was a normal sound. No vehicle I've ever driven has sounded like this, especially one that cost me $40,000!!!
The Jeep would hesitate when shifting into gear and then "jump" into gears. I was initially told the car is new and needs to be "broken in". I did bring it in for a transaxle recall which I was then told this should help. I eventually brought vehicle back in again and was them told that because it is a 9 speed it just runs rougher. UGH !!
BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY, WITHIN TWO WEEKS HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECASUE THE CAR WOULD SHIFT REAL ROUGH AND OR JERK WHEN BEING PUT INTO GEAR. THEY RAN A TEST ON IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. SO I WENT ON ABOUT MY LIFE, THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER I NOTICED THAT IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING BUT ONLY HAD GOTTEN WORSE! TOOK IT BACK THEY KEPT IT OVER NIGHT AND STILL SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. WELL JUST LAST MIONTH AFTER ALMOST BEING IN A ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR JERKING I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID AT THIS POINT THEY WOULD JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR HOWEVER MY PAYMENTS WOULD BE 10X HIGHER OR COME OUT OF POCKET WITH A LARGER DOWN PAYMENT!!! UHHHH NO TO EITHER ONE. AT THAT POINT I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT JEEP I DID AND AS OF TODAY NOONE HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME! I AM VER FEARFULL WHEN I DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE PULLING AND THE WAY IT SHIFTS!
I had been having a really bad jumping/lurching/banging when accelerating from a stop. Less then 1 week after the update my transmission started failing again, and the jumping/lurching/banging when shifting gears started once again. Will take it for a new transmission, but from what I've read and heard that will not be the solution!!! Fiat Chrysler needs to reimburse for the expense of having to rent a car every time!!!
I've had this lemon since new and had it in the shop 13 times going on 14 in a few weeks. I totally love the overall looks of the Trailhawk but I am thoroughly disgusted of the performance. The main issue is with transmission. Its been reflashed at least 3 times maybe 4. It started banging into 3rd gear from a stop on hard exceleration. The first time that I brought it to the shop, they couldn't duplicate the condition. Had to take it home. A few weeks later I took it back for the same thing. This time they took it and replaced a check valve in the transmission valve body. It was ok for a few weeks and it was doing the same thing. This time it was in the shop for over 2 weeks because their determination was to replace the transmission, and the work had to be authorized by a top technition from Chrysler. The transmission was replaced with a 2015 model. Now I have more problems. With the original trans I could lay rubber for about 10 feet. Can't do that now. It appears that I lost some torque from a dead start. I even amaized my friend who also has a Trailhawk. He can't even get a squeel out of his tires. Also now it has a delay in downshifting for about 3 or 4 seconds before it downshifts when you want to change lanes or when you're turning a corner from a quick stop. When you're turning a corner from a quick stop, you better give yourself a lot of room so you don't get rear ended. It acts like there was a 4 cylinder in it. Also had to replace the Power Transaxle Unit. What a peice of crap for a vehicle. Have to take it back again. Thoroughly Disgusted!!!
A week after I got the car I noticed a rough shifting between gears. At times it felt like the car was jumping when it changed gears-also I noticed that when I start the car it takes a little while to get going like it has no power. I called the nearest Chrysler-Jeep dealer. I took the car in for service-first they told me that it was normal for these cars which obviously I didn't buy. Ok they agreed to service it and they told me it was a body valve damaged in the transmission, which they replaced. Then they told me that it will take a few days of driving for the part to line up with the computer and then it will smooth out, which it has happened yet-this a very annoying situation because I'm driving practically a brand new car and I don't feel safe driving and no peace of mind, always worrying that something will happen while I'm driving.
We bought the 2014 Jeep Cherokee 2.4L September 2014 - Brand New
From day one 1st gear from a dead stop can take a good second or two to even reacts to the gas pedal being press down. It's always nice trying to turn or merge into traffic thinking I have enough time and pull out and step on the gas and nothing... 2nd gear is another story, most of the time it seems like it never ends, the moment when the RPM get higher and higher then decides to shifts into 3rd gear at this point if you are not thrown into the seat and not suffering from whiplash feel lucky. I have taking it to the local Jeep dealer and they just shake their heads at it, and tell me the same story, "We are sorry, until they come out with a fix, there is nothing we can do" I don't have time to bring it by every single week to check for an update. I call them to see if any new patches or updates have been made... and sure enough nothing ever gets address with this transmission. I love the Jeep. I just don't have time to stop weekly or even monthly to speed 1 - 2 hours in the service lounge to tell me "Sorry no updates yet" and go home with out the problem resolved. They agree it shifts hard, and can take a moment for 1st gear to kick in from a stop, but they can't fix it. I've has it in the shop a about 8 to 10 times in the last year for transmission issues alone.
Last week I was sick of it and decided check trade in values and found that the market has dropped because of the repeat issues with the transmission. The vehicle is not worth trading now with estimated 5,000/6,000 of lost equity. I even called around to a few dealership just trying to get a idea of trade/sales value. The dealership I bought the vehicle from said he wasn't interested in the vehicle and wouldn't say "Why" He was all ready to help me out till I told him the Year, Make, Model and Engine he changed his story really quick. I have googled the issues, seen forum after forum, post after post of people with the same issues, has anyone found a resolution to this issue?
2014 Jeep Cherokee taken to the dealership 3 times to fix rough shifting lower gears, shifting into neutral, especially coming down hills, and no acceleration when stepping on accelerator moving into traffic flow. Informed Jeep dealership where bought vehicle, last two times that problem was a safety issue. Dealership replied with unable to duplicate concern on road test, typed out on service receipt. Transmission was ref lashed at last 3 times, and one time was told to drive it around for about 1000 miles and then bring it back if it's a problem. Vehicle looks great on inside and outside, but mechanically it is a disappointment.
Terrible transmission. Jams into low gear, loses power in 3rd. Transmission doesnt know what it wants to do. Shifts delay then either jam into low or bog in 3rd and if I press on the accelerator it finally shifts down and winds out a lower gear. It happens often and its unpredictable. The dealership stonewalls and even though it is a well known problem they say they never heard of the problem. Impossible to get help from the dealer. I have had to take it to the highest levels at Chrysler and am on final service call to fix. This has been two years of being ignored by the dealership. Do not buy a Jeep in Redlands, CA
I own a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Within the first year I started feeling a rough transmission gear change. The transmission would "slam" into gear real hard and grind a little. This should not be happening with a brand new car.
Still worried about getting stranded or worse. Thinking I might start to enter the highway and it will fail and cause a crash when it doesn't engage in gear.
From the day I purchased my 2014 Jeep Cherokee, it has been shifting roughly. I took it back to the dealership the next business day and said something was wrong with the transmission. The service department did a "relearn," whatever that means. It did nothing. They said I had to drive it a while so that it would learn my driving behavior. It didn't so I took it back to the dealership again.
The dealership did a software update and said to drive it 500 miles before the car's transmission would settle down. Again, no change and I took it back to the dealership. The dealership said nothing could be done but I should drive it now 10,000 miles. After 10,000 miles I took it back to the dealership and they said they could not find anything wrong with it. That is the way it is supposed to run.
I've driven many different types of vehicles over my life, from dump trucks to Cadillacs and I have never experienced a transmission shifting so roughly or jerking so bad in any of them like it does in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. This is the first vehicle that I've actually hated to drive and I believe that Chrysler should buy it back. I would be out thousands of dollars is I traded it in.
So after having transmission issues on May 4th at around 21000 miles, being told it was just the engine before escalating to the service director and having the transmission replaced, the transmission is at it yet AGAIN!!!!
After one month at the dealership (car was returned to me on June 6th) and 300 miles put on it to test it, I am still getting random jerking and jumping when coasting and starting out at stop signs. To add insult to injury, F.A.C. doesn't believe that the issue warrants a buyback. When I asked what does warrant a buyback, I was told that is determined on a case by case basis and that there was no set criteria. They offered trade-in assistance but said I would owe money (on a lease that has one year remaining). Seriously disgusted and disappointed by the lack of acknowledgement that this is a major safety issue. F.A.C case manager was made aware that if I or my child was injured or involved in an accident because of their negligence, there will be a completely different conversation.
shifts rough at times. and at other times works good. no set shift points . started car and transmission would not go into gear and rolled back wards had to slam on breaks , dash lit up and was flashing all sorts of check engine , transmission, forward collision colission lite came on. engine still running. I pushed the gear selector forward and back transmission cluncked into gear power stearing not working (verry hard to turn wheel) I pulled out of my car port and ran through the gears a few times the transmissio started to act normal . drove it to the dealer and reported the problem they checked the check engine code and coulden't find any referance to the transmission problem. They keep the car for a week and couldent find any problem with the transmission. They called manufacture rep and they said to re-program computer ??? right now the car is running ok, but I have lost all faith in the care the wife doesn't want to ride in it. that it fo now
Transmission shifts very roughly in 1-2, and 2-3 shifts. Sometimes it's so rough my neck snaps back. Passengers have commented that the car seems to be fighting itself. Hate it, hate it. Been to the dealer many times. They upgrade the software and "clear the memory" as it's a "learning transmission". Well it better learn soon!
The 9-speed Jeep transmission needs to be scrapped, it does not perform. Car shuts entirely down and has to be towed, we are now experiencing a new problem...car will not start! It shifts rough if at all, it lurches when the gear hits making it hard at stops as you never know what it is going to do and is very dangerous in crossing. Up hill it make just a loud noise when down shifting, you look in your mirror to see if something fell off the car. It skips gears and grinds when trying to shift, it shimmies when starting in first gear. There are times when it shifts so hard it gives you whiplash.
This is a very dangerous car 2014 Jeep Cherokee, and actually is a safety issue, we are afraid to drive far in it as it just shuts down and we have had it towed. We purchased a very expensive cell phone to have with us at all times when we drive this car. It has been worked on maybe 18-20 times at the dealership and now they will not even take it in anymore.
We are now trying to trade it off, but no one will even offer on it? We are stuck with this piece of scrap metal.
the car stalls when taking off randomly it will sit there and not go then will take off and squeel the tires and accelerate agrresively . it won't downshit sometimes when giving it gas . it shifts very roughly randomly . these things all put me and my family in danger every time we take it out, we have taken it to multiple dealers for fixes but nothing ever happens. they just do updates and we get the same car back. we are told this is normal.
I am very disappointed in Jeep. They new there was a problem and did not take care it. I love this car just not the transmission. I almost had an accident when I hit the brake and the car accelerates instead. The rpms will rev really high when coming down a hill and it bangs into to gear hard. I have been waiting for resolution. They did all updates and replaced the transmission and it's the same. They never paid the dealer yet for all there work. I just want Jeep to discuss what options are for me.
Update from May 8, 2016: jeep has agreed to replace my jeep with a new one. I am very happy with the out come.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We purchased a 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited, 4WD w/Active Drive 2 in January 2014. When we purchased this vehicle, we traded in a GMC Terrain. We were certain that the Jeep was going to be a fantastic purchase, knowing the reputation of Jeep. We have had nothing but what I'd call serious problems with the transmission. Every time I take it in for an oil change, I mention it, and they do "software updates." Each software update that has been done has not corrected the problem still. All it's done is created a different problem. There have now been 5 recalls on this vehicle, 1 of which hasn't been taken care of yet because Jeep hasn't come up with a replacement part, so I'm stuck with a rental Renegade that is nowhere near comparable to my Cherokee Limited 4WD, for an "unspecified amount of time." My steering column makes a grinding noise louder than a 40 year old truck. The dealership told me that it was a normal sound. No vehicle I've ever driven has sounded like this, especially one that cost me $40,000!!!
- apawlicke, Michigan City, IN, US